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Friday, April 4, 2014

A bad week for anthropomorphism

I first saw the fawns last fall, September or October. They
were not twins, and not adopted by a deer herd. I saw them almost daily on the
golf course, where they had access to food. They bedded separately and never
were among the small herds scattered over the golf course all winter. One stayed far up on the back nine and the
other stayed close to the last spruce on Truxell Road, before the county road.

This one was “my” deer, and I looked around for it when I
went by. One morning I saw it standing on the frozen lake, drinking from a
small hole under the willow tree. I swung around at the end of the road and
crept back to take a picture, but it looked when I stopped the car, and bolted.

And so we went on, until Monday morning. “My” deer was a
pile of leg bones, a rib cage, and a pelt, under the last spruce tree on Truxell.
I swung back for another look; it must be a couple of large geese, I told
myself. But no, it was a deer, the size of a small pony. I made another U turn,
pulled in close, and wafted the little guy a good bye.

Up at the head of the course I pulled in, found the owner
and asked him to have the little guy moved away. The owners are grumpy folks,
and I was dismissed. Monday afternoon, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, this
morning, the little guy remained scattered under his spruce. In fairness to
mother nature, there was a little less of him every day. This morning the owner
was pulling out of the lot; I pulled in, blocked him and asked him again to
gather up the bones and hide. The little fellow was gone when I came home.

We have many coyotes in the valley, some wolves and an
occasional bobcat seen on the game cams. I couldn't imagine any one of them big
enough to take down a sturdy young deer the size of a small pony. These two
guys lost their spots over the winter, and grew a little bigger. A diet of
twigs, bark and pine needles is rough, but I figured it would carry them
through to the green grass and berries of summer.

I asked a park ranger friend her opinion, which was the
winter was prolonged and the snow cover impenetrable for long periods. Even a
reasonably healthy youngster sheltering alone was an easy target for most of
the park’s four legged predators. Seeing him for so many months was a feat on
the deer’s part, she thought.

I won’t stop looking out for deer on the roads; it’s the
best way not to hit them. From now on, though, they may all look alike to me.

I don't know what the mortality rate is for fawns and yearlings in your area, here in MT it's pretty high. We have the same type of winters, and also have wolves, coyotes and mountain lions, all of which can pretty easily take down deer. A pack of coyotes are quite effective in bringing down even yearling deer.

Oh how sad. But unfortunately this is how mother nature works. I lived for a winter in the deep country of upper Michigan. I saw so many that could not make it through the winter. Not only deer but other critters. We are out of sync with nature now -- the predator/prey pattern is disturbed. Hunters kill mothers and babies have to fend for themselves -- from birds to large prey such as moose where my daughter lives in Utah. The animals are struggling more as predator populations invade their territories. Even trees have large new groups of predators. I could go on but I won't. thoughtful post. -- barbara

I know how you feel, Joanne, as I get involved in the well being of all the animals in my woods. Nature can be cruel, and it is hard to accept when you have made a bond ( even if it is one sided) with them. I hope the other one makes it and enjoys his first summer.

Aww, Joanne. I'm sorry. I was just thinking about the deer close to us today. I've had to consciously make myself not think about the fate of wildlife because I would be undone if I let it all in. Nature may be beautiful but she has her dark side.

Aww Joanne, you've broken my heart, here. Poor wee fellow. I'm so sorry he met an early demise. But thank goodness you have photos. He was young, he was adorable, and he'll live on through your love and your blog. oxoxo

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